Santa Barbara & Santa Cruz

Santa Barbara pier
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Just a summary of what I've been up to for the last few days... After leaving LA, I took the train to Santa Barbara. I arrived in around 4 in the afternoon and just stayed the one night. Santa Barbara without fully exploring it, seems your nice average seaside town. Its got a pier to walk around, a beach and a small enough town with shops and restaurants. Its known for being quite an expensive place to visit, I didn't notice so much, although the hostel was quite expensive. I left the next morning, so thats the height of my experience in Santa Barabara. No complains, but nothing standout either.

me in Santa Barbara
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After nearly 7 hours on the greyhound, I arrived into Santa Cruz, and tracked up a hill to find my hostel. The Hostel is a bit strange, there is no alcohol allowed, you need to be out of the hostel during the daytime, and there is a 11pm curfew by which you're supposed to be in by! Santa Cruz at first glance seems another typical seaside town, similar to Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. Although there are quite a few tourists and surfers around, and from what I hear, the nearby university gives it a certain 'alternative' feel.

One of them was called 'Hallelujah' and another 'Aloha'!

seals in Santa Cruz
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The first night there, I took it pretty easy as I've been a bit wrecked lately. Although, as I was walking down the road with an English guy from the hostel, we noticed a bit of a party going on, and we were invited into the house. It turns out it was a party with proper Californian hippys! I'm not talking about just your average stoners, these people were respectable folk ranging from 20s to early 40s. One of them was called 'Hallelujah' and another 'Aloha'! They were all very friendly dancing away 'Tai-Chi' style and offering us lots of drinks. We had one drink and were politely on our way! Crazy Californian hippys!

Park in Santa Cruz
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The next day, I wandered around Santa Cruz. Its nice and quaint, quite small. Met a guy from Newry in the hostel, and we drove out to one of the natural parks. The trees and scenery are really impressive. That night we went out, and met some Californian girls who showed us some of the decent bars around the place. Felt a bit like teenagers, breaking the hostel curfew having to sneak back in late at night!

I arrived to San Francisco today. Im here for 6 nights so that should be good. I will ease myself into the sightseeing, before its time to go to Chicago. Not long left now...